Paralegals and Legal Assistants Pay Range in Massachusetts
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,770
- 25th Percentile — Junior$62,580
- 50th Percentile — Median$77,640
- 75th Percentile — Senior$96,820
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$117,480
Half of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts earn more than $77,640. The top 10% make $117,480 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,770.
Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Massachusetts ranks 4th of 51 states for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay, at $81,160 per year (16.4% above the U.S. average of $69,700).
- 7,800 people work as Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts — 2.0% of all U.S. Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 0.85: Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs are less concentrated in Massachusetts than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,770; the top 10% earn over $117,480.
- Hourly equivalent: $39.02 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $95,400.
- Among legal jobs in Massachusetts, Lawyers pays the most ($205,980).
Paralegals and Legal Assistants Job Market in Massachusetts
Key factors affecting compensation
Massachusetts's key industries are Healthcare, Education, Technology, and its job market is rated very strong. Paralegals and Legal Assistants here earn $81,160 on average, placing the state 4th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.3 (U.S. = 1.00), a Massachusetts salary of $81,160 is roughly equivalent to $62,431 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($95,400), Washington ($83,740), California ($81,320) are the closest alternatives for Paralegals and Legal Assistants weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Legal Jobs in Massachusetts
Related career salary benchmarks
- Lawyers $205,980/yr Massachusetts +153.8% vs this role
- Judicial Law Clerks $132,380/yr Massachusetts +63.1% vs this role
- Administrative Law Judges $124,550/yr Massachusetts +53.5% vs this role
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners $73,870/yr Massachusetts 9.0% vs this role
- Title Examiners Abstractors and Searchers $70,970/yr Massachusetts 12.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Massachusetts?
The average Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Massachusetts is $81,160 per year (median $77,640), which is 16.4% above the national average of $69,700.
How does Massachusetts rank for Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay?
Massachusetts ranks 4th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($95,400/yr).
How much do entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants make in Massachusetts?
The lowest-paid 10% of Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Massachusetts earn about $49,770 per year and the 25th percentile is $62,580.
How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Massachusetts?
About $39.02 per hour, based on the $81,160 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Paralegals and Legal Assistants work in Massachusetts?
BLS counts 7,800 Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs in Massachusetts (OEWS May 2025).
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